Magnetic tape for lifting boxes or bags and other objects



June 25, 1957 r ETT 2,797,370

MAGNETIC TAPE FOR LIFTING BOXES OR BAGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed Nov. 1-, 1954 2 Shets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I fiwHmwmAflm/A/wr MAGNETIC TAPE FOR LIFTING BOXES OR. BAGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed Nov. 1', 1954 June 25, 1957 R. A. BENNETT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvwzzvm. ParmermoABmnr MAGNETIC TAPE FOR LIFTING BOXES OR BAGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Rutherford A. Bennett, New York, N. Y.

Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 465,776

7 Claims. (Cl. 317-458) This invention relates to an adhesively backed packaging tape, which may or may not be of the pressuresensitive type, used for sealing and closing boxes, bags, and parcels, and particularly characterized by its attraciton to a magnetic article support and lifting means.

In many instances, boxes, bags, parcels, and other objects must be lifted by a crane or similar structure, for movement from one location to another, and under these circumstances, where the article itself is not of magnetizable material, it is necessary that the lifting device be equipped with a tongs, sling, or other support forthe object or objects to be lifted. Excessive time is thus consumed in placing the tongs or sling in object-engaging position, and furthermore, the object itself may be damaged in the operation.

Magnets, suspended from cranes and other lifting structures are not, of course, new per se, and are widely used in metal scrap yards or other places in which practically all the objects to be lifted are themselves capable of being magnetically attracted to a permanent or electrically energized magnet. However, the magnetic means in question have not, so far as is known, heretofore been used in attracting or lifting objects which in and of themselves are not of a material attracted by said magnetic means.

Accordingly, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a tape-like packaging member that can be applied to the outer surface of any object which is not, in and of itself, capable of being magnetically attracted to the magnet, with said tape member having thereon a filler of magnetizable material. In this way, it is proposed that the tape means not only serve as a conventional packaging tape, for sealing a parcel or bag, but also as the means for imparting to the parcel or bag sealed thereby the capability of being attracted to a magnet. As a result, magnetic means might be employed, for example, in mail rooms, post otfices, shipping departments, and warehouses, to lift and move packaged articles.

The speed and facility of transportation of said articles from one location to another is thus capable of being increased to a distinct extent, with an accompanying reduction in the cost of handling said articles.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the'invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a parcel wrapped and sealed with a magnetic tape formed in accordance with the present invention, a lifting magnet being shown in a position in which it is about to magnetically attract the parcel to elevate the same.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified forma States Patent C) Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of still another modification.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view showing the form of Fig. 5 as it appears when being attached to a parcel.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of still another modification.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the Fig. 7 form of tape compressed widthwise to prepare the same for use.

The reference numeral 10 has been applied generally in Fig. 1 to an object to be lifted, the object in the illustrated example being a box, Wrapped in paper and sealed with magnetic tape 12 formed in accordance with the present invention, so as to permit said box to be lifted by a conventional permanent magnet 14.

As will be noted, the box, after being wrapped in ordinary paper, has end flaps t6 overlapping one another, after which a length of magnetic tape 12 is applied to the top and ends of the box, to seal the same and hold the flaps in place. The tape 12 thus serves as a conventional tape, such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, and can be used to advantage in sealing parcels, whether said parcels are to be lifted by a magnetic means 14 or handled without such lifting by the magnetic means.

As shown in Fig. 2, the tape 12 includes a backing piece 18, said backing piece being formed of paper, cloth, or any other flexible, inexpensive material. To one side of the backing piece 18 there is applied adhesive 20, and in accordance with the present invention, freely dispersed throughout the area of said adhesive are particles 22 of magnetizable material. For example, iron filings can be employed to advantage, but it will be understood that any other metallic particles, capable of being attracted readily to the magnet 14, can be dispersed through the adhesive.

The tape can be of the pressure-sensitive type. Alternatively, it may be heat-sensitive, or moisture-sensitive. In any event, when the tape is applied to the parcel, it is adapted to seal the same, and will be possessed of properties whereby lowering of the magnet 14 into close proximity to the parcel will cause said parcel to be attracted to the magnet, to permit the magnet to lift the parcel. The magnet can, of course, be of the electromagnetic type, if desired.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modified form wherein the tape includes flexible laminations 28, 30 of paper, fabric, or other inexpensive material, said laminations comprising the backing of the tape. Interposed between the laminations 28, 30 is a layer of adhesive 32, which bonds together the laminations, and dispersed through the adhesive 32 are magnetizable particles 34 similar to the particles 22. In this form of the invention, the adhesive 36 whereby the tape is attached to the parcel 10 is applied to the outer surface of the lamination 30, and does not in and of itself have magnetic properties, being free of the particles 34. This form of the invention has been designated by the reference numeral 26, and can be employed in the same manner as the tape 12..

A complete burlap bag may also be constructed with iron filings or other suitable magnet attractive material, or metallic strands may be woven into the burlap bag material.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form 38 wherein the paper or cloth piece 40 has a web portion constituting the underside of said piece, said web portion being integral with side portions 42, 44 which are folded over onto one another in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and adhesively secured. As a result, a flat tubular tape is provided, and thus there is constituted a hollow, flexible,

flat housing in which the magnetizable particles 46 are contained. The particles 46 in this form of the invention are freely dispersed in the interior of the housing, and are permitted to flow freely from side to side and longitudinally of the tape. As a result, the magneticparticles can concentrate themselves in the area close to the magnet 14, to increase the magnetic properties of the tapev The tape in this form is provided with adhesive 47, coated upon the underside of the web portion 40 exteriorly of the hollow tape, the adhesive 47 being adapted to permit the tape to be attached to the parcel in the manner previously described herein.

In Figs. and 6, the magnetic tape has been designated at 48, and can comprise a short, rectangular length of tape formed as a small envelope 50 having a flap 52'adhesively coated and adapted to be closed to seal the envelope. On one of the outer surfaces of the envelope, conventional adhesive 54 can be coated, and within the envelope, magnetizable particles 56 are freely dispersed.

In this form of the invention, the envelope-like tape can be employed as the sealing means, for sealing the parcel. Alternatively, if a long length of tape is needed, a conventional packaging tape 66 can be employed on the parcel 53. The tape 60 is positioned wherever desired on the parcel, in overlying relation to the magnetizable means 48 constituting the invention. Since the tape 60 is adhesively backed, it will adhesively engage the envelope, and the envelope itself will of course adhesively engage the parcel surface, the envelope being completely covered by the tape 6().

In Figs. 7 and 8, the invention has been designated generally at 62. In this form of the invention, the backing piece can comprise a length of paper or other flexible, inexpensive material, folded upon itself along a line extending longitudinally and centrally thereof to provide bottom and top laminations 64, 66. On the outer surface of the bottom lamination 64, adhesive 68 is coated to permit the tape to be attached readily to the object to be lifted. The contacting, inner surfaces of the laminations 64, 66 are adhesively bonded against one another by adhesive 72.

In this connection, as will be noted from Fig. 7 the adhesive 72 is not coated over the full areas of the inner surfaces of the laminations. Instead, the adhesive 72 is so located as to define, at uniformly spaced locations along the length of the tape, large rectangular pockets 74, communicating in each instance with outwardly extending pocket extensions 76. Extensions 76 extend longitudinally and centrally of the tape, there being a pair of said extensions 76 associated with each pocket '74. Adhesive 73, of materially lower strength than the adhesive 72, is arranged in transversely extending, relatively narrow areas, where each pocket 74 communicates with the inner ends of its associated extensions 76. In other words, normally the extensions 76 associated with each pocket 74 are sealed off from said pocket. Further, the space between the outer ends of each pair of adjacent extensions 76 is coated with adhesive 80 of a strength equal to that of the adhesive 78, the adhesive 80 extending transversely of the tape in the same manner as the adhesive 78.

Within each pocket 74 there is provided a quantity 'of iron filings 82 or other readily magnetizable, freely flowing particles.

In use of this form of the invention, the pockets normally hold the material from flowing longitudinally of the tape, and as a result, quantities of said material are uniformly distributed over the full length of the tape. When, however, the tape is to be used, and assuming that it is desired to concentrate the magnetizable material over a particular, relatively short part of the length of the tape, one grasps the tape at opposite side edges thereof in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and exerts a pressure transversely and inwardly of the tape. This causes deformation of the tape to the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 8, since the adhesive 78, is relatively weak as compared to the adhesive 72. Therefore, those portions of the laminations 64, 66 which are normally joined by the adhesive 78, 80 are separated responsive to the transverse pressure directed thereagainst tending to spread said portions apart. Said portions will, accordingly, be spread apart, and there will thus be defined a tunnel or conduit 84 extending continuously between adjacent pockets 74. As a result, the particles within said pockets 74 will flow along said tunnels, so as to be dispersed over the full length of the particular portion of the tape that is to be in close proximity to the magnet 14. Pressure can be similarly applied to adjacent tape portions, to cause the particles in said adjacent portions to flow toward the particular portion that is to be in proximity to the magnet.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being of hollow formation, said material being confined to the interior of the body, the body being formed as an envelope adapted to be sealed along one edge thereof.

2. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed as an elongated, flat tube with the material extending within said tube.

3. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed as an elongated, flat tube with the material extending within said tube, said body compris ing a piece of backing material folded along longitudinal lines spaced transversely thereof to provide a web portion and overlapping side portions, said side portions being sealed in overlapping relation, said adhesive being coated on the web portion, the web portion and sealed side portions defining said tube.

4. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed with pockets spaced longitudinally thereof, and with conduits communicating between the pockets, said material being disposed within said pockets and being adapted to flow into the conduits.

5. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body enageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed with pockets spaced longitudinally thereof, and with conduits communicating between the pockets, said material being disposed within said pockets and' being adapted to 'flow into the conduits, said conduits being normally sealed off from the pockets to confine the material to the-pockets.

6. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed with pockets spaced longitudinally thereof, and with conduits communicating between the pockets, said material being disposed within said pockets and being adapted to flow into the conduits, said conduits being normally sealed off from the pockets to confine the material to the pockets, the opposite walls of the conduits being normally adhesively engaged, said adhesive being of a strength adapted to permit spreading of the walls of the conduit away from one another responsive to pressure exerted transversely of the body against opposite sides of the body, whereby to permit flow of the material out of the pockets into the conduits.

7. A packaging means for objects comprising a flexible body applicable to the surface of an object to be lifted, adhesive on the outer surface of said body engageable with said surface of the object to attach said body thereto, and a magnetizable material carried by the body, said body being formed with pockets spaced longitudinally thereof, and with conduits communicating between the pockets, said material being disposed within said pockets and being adapted to flow into the conduits, said conduits being normally sealed off from the pockets to confine the material to the pockets, the opposite walls of the conduits being normally adhesively engaged, said adhesive being of a strength adapted to permit spreading of the walls of the conduit away from one another responsive to pressure exerted transversely of the body against opposite sides of the body, whereby to permit flow of the material out of the pockets into the conduits, said conduits being formed as extensions of the pockets, each pocket including a pair of said extensions at opposite sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,774,856 Deventer Sept. 2, 1930 20 2,011,697 Vogt Aug. 20, 1935 2,011,698 Vogt Aug. 20, 1935 

